Squirrels can be a major nuisance for backyard birders, as they will raid bird feeders and scare away the birds you want to attract. While completely squirrel-proofing a bird feeder is difficult, there are some smells and scents that can help deter squirrels and keep them away.
Do squirrels have a strong sense of smell?
Yes, squirrels have an excellent sense of smell that they use to find food. Their nasal cavity is large compared to their body size, indicating the importance of their sense of smell. Squirrels can sniff out buried nuts and seeds, as well as ripe fruit and vegetables. They also use scent to communicate with other squirrels.
How far away can squirrels smell food?
Research has shown that squirrels can detect food smells from up to 100 feet away. Their scent detection abilities are helped by the design of their nose. Squirrels have a split upper lip that allows scents to reach specialized smelling organs called Jacobson’s organs when they are chewing or tasting something.
Do squirrels dislike certain smells?
Yes, there are certain scents that squirrels strongly dislike and will avoid. Smells that are pungent, spicy, citrusy, or minty are offensive to squirrels. These types of smells overwhelm their sensitive nose and make an area less appealing. Strategically using these smells around your bird feeders can deter squirrels.
List of smells squirrels hate
Here are some of the specific smells that squirrels try to avoid:
- Peppermint oil
- Cinnamon
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Black pepper
- Garlic
- Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, limes)
- Vinegar
- Ammonia
- Moth balls (naphthalene)
- Predator urine (fox, coyote, bobcat)
- Putrescent egg solids
5 smells squirrels hate the most
Here are the top 5 smells found to be most effective at deterring squirrels:
- Peppermint oil
- Fox urine
- Cayenne pepper
- Moth balls
- Ammonia
What smells naturally repel squirrels?
There are some natural scents and products that can help repel squirrels without the need for chemicals or human-made compounds:
Peppermint
The strong scent of peppermint oil is offensive to squirrels. Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil around your bird feeders.
Sprinkling chili powder
Dust bird feeders with spicy chili powder. Squirrels dislike the smell and will avoid areas heavy with chili powder.
Using predator urine
The natural smell of predator urine, like coyote or fox pee, triggers a fear response in squirrels and they will avoid those areas. Predator urine can be purchased online or at hunting stores.
Planting mint
Grow mint plants around the periphery of your yard or garden space. Squirrels dislike the menthol smells of plants like peppermint, spearmint, catmint, and pennyroyal.
Citrus peels
Squirrels avoid citrus smells. Try scattering dried citrus peels around feeders or rubbing citrus oils on poles. The smell helps deter squirrels from climbing up to bird feeders.
What smells work best to repel squirrels from bird feeders?
These smells have proven to be most effective for keeping squirrels away from bird feeders:
Fox or coyote urine
Scent | Deterrence Rating |
---|---|
Fox urine | 9/10 |
Coyote urine | 8/10 |
Squirrels are innately afraid of the smells of their natural predators like foxes and coyotes. The scent triggers a fear response, causing squirrels to avoid those areas.
Ammonia
Scent | Deterrence Rating |
---|---|
Ammonia | 8/10 |
The harsh chemical odor of household ammonia is very off-putting to squirrels. Soak cotton balls in ammonia and place around feeders. Reapply after rain.
Cayenne pepper
Scent | Deterrence Rating |
---|---|
Cayenne pepper | 7/10 |
The spicy scent of cayenne pepper powder repels squirrels. Lightly dust feeders and poles with cayenne pepper to discourage squirrels from approaching.
Natural squirrel repellent recipes
You can make homemade natural squirrel deterrents using the smells that squirrels dislike. Here are a few easy recipes to try:
Cayenne Pepper Spray
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper powder
- 2 cups warm water
- Spray bottle
Instructions:
- Mix cayenne powder with warm water in spray bottle.
- Shake bottle to dissolve powder.
- Spray on feeders, poles, and around yard to repel squirrels.
Peppermint Squirrel Repellent
Ingredients:
- 15-20 drops peppermint oil
- 1 cup water
- Spray bottle
Instructions:
- Add peppermint oil to water in spray bottle.
- Shake bottle to mix.
- Apply around bird feeders and squirrel access points.
Vinegar-Ammonia Squirrel Repellent
Ingredients:
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ammonia
- 1 spray bottle
Instructions:
- Combine ingredients in spray bottle.
- Spray solution on poles, fences, tables, or posts where squirrels climb to get to feeders.
- Reapply after rain.
Tips for using smells to repel squirrels
Follow these tips when using scents and smells to deter squirrels:
- Apply smells frequently and reapply after rain or snow.
- Combine multiple squirrel-repelling scents for better effectiveness.
- Focus on applying smells to bird feeders, poles, fences, and shrubs squirrels use to access feeders.
- Make homemade sprays using ammonia, vinegar, garlic, chili powder, or peppermint oil.
- Place cotton balls soaked with fox urine or peppermint oil around yards and gardens.
- Scatter dried chili pepper flakes around feeder areas.
- Spray repellent scents along the top of fences and walls to prevent squirrels from climbing over.
- Reapply smelly deterrents every few days for best results.
Will used coffee grounds or tobacco keep squirrels away from bird feeders?
Used coffee grounds and tobacco are sometimes suggested as potential squirrel repellents, but these are not very effective options. Here is some information on using coffee and tobacco to repel squirrels:
Coffee grounds
While squirrels dislike the smell of coffee, used coffee grounds alone are not potent enough to keep squirrels away from bird feeders. The scent disippates too quickly outdoors. Coffee grounds need to be used along with stronger smells like pepper spray or predator urine to have any effect.
Tobacco
There is little evidence showing tobacco deters squirrels. The tobacco smells dissipate too quickly outdoors. Tobacco can be toxic to dogs, cats, and beneficial garden insects as well. Tobacco is not recommended as a squirrel repellent around bird feeders.
conclusions
In conclusion, several natural and human-made scents can effectively repel squirrels from bird feeders and yards. Strong smells like predator urine, ammonia, cayenne pepper, and peppermint oil seem to work best at deterring squirrels. Reapplying these offensive smells frequently is key to success. Avoid ineffective options like used coffee grounds or tobacco which have little effect. A combination of two or more squirrel repellent smells will yield the best results and let you enjoy squirrel-free birdwatching!